spiv

Etymology

Unknown. Perhaps from spiff, spiffy. Spiv was the nickname of Henry Bagster, a Londoner arrested a number of times in 1904-6 for activities as described below, and may have been the archetype. Also possibly from Romani spiv (“sparrow”), as active and opportunistic.

noun

1. (Britain, historical) A smartly dressed person who trades in illicit, black-market or stolen goods, especially during World War II.
2. (Britain, dated) A flashy con artist, often homeless, who lives by his wits.
   It was Robeson who introduced me to the other blacks in New York, the Show Boat cast, the hangers-on, girlfriends, spivs, and bookies. "My people," he called them, "my brothers and sisters" […] 1978, Paul Theroux, Picture Palace, page 92
   I make no apology for attacking spivs and gamblers who did more harm to the British economy than [transport union leader] Bob Crow could achieve in his wildest Trotskyite fantasies, while paying themselves outrageous bonuses underwritten by the taxpayer. 2010-09-22, Gavin Stamp, quoting Vince Cable, “Cable in attack on bonuses for City 'spivs'”, in BBC News
3. (Britain, dated, Scotland Yard) A low and common thief.
4. (Britain, dated) A slacker; one who shirks responsibility.